In recent months, the governors of Texas and Florida have taken unprecedented steps by designating the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR), a prominent Muslim civil rights organization, as a terrorist group. This move marks a departure from the traditional role of the federal government as the primary authority in labeling terrorist organizations, sparking debate over legal and civil liberties implications.

CAIR, a 32-year-old nonprofit headquartered in Washington with chapters in more than 20 states, has long faced scrutiny and accusations from conservative circles regarding alleged ties to extremist groups. The organization denies these charges and is challenging the designations in court, arguing that its constitutional rights to free speech, assembly, and due process are being violated.

In Florida, Governor Ron DeSantis signed into law a statute making it a felony to knowingly provide “material support” to groups designated as terrorist organizations, with provisions allowing the state to dissolve such entities. The law also restricts the use of Islamic religious practices, known as sharia, in certain judicial and governmental processes, a move DeSantis defended as part of a broader effort to “defend and reinvigorate Western Civilization.” CAIR’s Florida chapter faces potential closure under this law, which has been temporarily blocked by a federal judge after CAIR filed suit to halt its implementation.

Similarly, in Texas, Governor Greg Abbott formally designated CAIR as a terrorist organization in November 2023, referencing testimony from a 2008 terrorism financing trial involving the Holy Land Foundation, in which CAIR was named as an unindicted co-conspirator. Abbott’s designation prohibits CAIR from purchasing or acquiring land in the state and empowers Attorney General Ken Paxton to seek the group’s closure. Paxton filed suit in February to this effect, and CAIR is contesting the legal challenge.

The controversy has raised concerns among legal experts, civil liberties advocates, and members of the Muslim community. Critics warn that state-level terrorism designations may circumvent the federal government’s rigorous review process, which includes access to classified intelligence and extensive counterterrorism resources. They further caution that politically motivated actions risk inflaming Islamophobia and could unjustly target civil rights organizations. Some scholars note that the politicization of terrorism designations at the state level could have unpredictable effects depending on shifts in political power.

CAIR leaders emphasize that the organization works to promote public understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, and reject violence. The group explicitly condemns attacks carried out by Hamas and other entities and identifies itself as opposing violent extremism. Despite this, the group’s ties to broader political conflicts, such as its support for Palestinian rights and its past association with individuals involved in the Holy Land Foundation case, have kept it at the center of persistent controversy.

The dispute has coincided with broader Republican efforts to counter what they perceive as the influence of Islam and left-wing activism within the United States. Beyond terrorism designations, recent investigations have probed CAIR’s use of federal funds for refugee resettlement, and prominent lawmakers have sought to curtail the organization’s activities in educational settings.

Members of the Muslim community in Texas and Florida report growing apprehension. Some mosques and Muslim groups have distanced themselves from CAIR to avoid legal and financial risks amid the heightened scrutiny. Advocates worry that restrictions on CAIR could leave significant gaps in advocacy and support for Muslim Americans, particularly among youth in public schools, at a time when Islamophobia is reportedly on the rise.

The legal battles surrounding CAIR’s designation remain ongoing in both states, with potential ramifications for civil rights, state-federal relations in counterterrorism policy, and the broader political discourse on Islam in America.